Hungarian election rivals Orbán and Magyar make final push for votes on eve of poll

DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) — The leaders of Hungary's two biggest parties held their final election rallies on Saturday to close a turbulent campaign that will reach its apex in Sunday's election.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is facing the biggest political test of his career as his challenger Péter Magyar 's center-right Tisza party has charted a meteoric rise and is leading by double digits in most independent polls.

If Tisza wins, it will bring Orbán's 16-year grip on power to a dramatic end.

Yet many observers expect the result to be closer than polls are predicting, and that Orbán's Fidesz party can successfully mobilize its significant base of support in the countryside.

Magyar, a 45-year-old lawyer and former member of Fidesz's political elite, has toured Hungary relentlessly for two years, visiting hundreds of cities, towns and villages in an effort to win over some of Orbán's rural support.

He appeared before thousands of supporters on Saturday on University Square in Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city and traditionally a Fidesz stronghold.

Magyar struck a confident tone, saying the election would “enter Hungarian history books as the day of resurrection, the renewal of the Hungarian nation, and of the real change of regime.”

He also gestured toward supporters of Orbán, saying his camp would begin the “reunification” of Hungary after election day, something he called a “national reconciliation.”

“As the winner of the election, we will have to extend a hand to our fellow countrymen,” he said.

Orbán, who ended his campaign on Budapest's opulent Castle Hill, has campaigned primarily by sounding the alarm on myriad external dangers he says are threatening Hungarians — particularly the war in neighboring Ukraine.

Orbán doubled down on that message, telling thousands of supporters that “we are in an age of danger.”

“Hungary is facing serious challenges,” he said. “We need to say no to major power groups in the world in order to defend ourselves, and this requires knowledge, experience and routine.”

He added: “Now is not the time to take risks, to change, to renew and to adventure. Now we need to protect and secure what we have.”

Orbán’s campaign has been plagued by Hungary’s poor economic performance, revelations of the government’s increasingly close connections to Russia and corruption allegations.

He has sought to boost his appeal with voters by emphasizing his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly endorsed the Hungarian leader. Vice President JD Vance made a two-day visit to Budapest earlier this week to push for Orbán’s reelection, even appearing at a taxpayer-funded campaign rally alongside the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Magyar has focused his campaign on issues that affect ordinary Hungarians like inflation, costs of living and the deteriorating state of public health care and transportation.

He has also spoken forcefully about what he describes as endemic governmental corruption that enriches a narrow segment of political elites — charges Orbán denies — and promised to reverse the prime minister's drift away from the European Union in favor of ever closer ties with Moscow.

As his supporters waved national flags and chanted “Európa! Európa!” in University Square, Magyar said that “many millions” of voters would show on Sunday that “Hungary’s place was, is, and will be in Europe.”

Magyar earlier visited several smaller communities in eastern Hungary including Balmazújváros, a town of around 17,000 residents.

One local Tisza activist, farmer Annamária Matkovics, said she had joined Magyar's party when it was first launched in 2024. While her region has historically been a Fidesz stronghold, Matkovics, 50, said she believes that Tisza has given people the courage to express their dissent, even if could come with consequences.

“When we’re campaigning on the street, people tell us that they’re worried that they’ll lose their jobs if they don’t vote for Fidesz, and they’re still planning to vote for Tisza,” she said. “They've had enough of the division.”

Iván L. Nagy contributed.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses supporters during the electoral campaign closing rally of the governing Fidesz in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses supporters during the electoral campaign closing rally of the governing Fidesz in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban addresses supporters during the electoral campaign closing rally of the governing Fidesz in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party attends a rally in Debrecen, Hungary, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Supporters attend a final election rally of Peter Magyar, the leader of the opposition Tisza party in Debrecen, Hungary, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lamine Yamal secured Barcelona's 4-1 win over Espanyol after setting up Ferran Torres for a double and the La Liga leaders took another step toward retaining the title on Saturday.

Yamal passed for Ferran to score in the 10th and 25th minutes before the teenage phenom ensured the victory in the 87th with Espanyol threatening to equalize. Marcus Rashford made it four for the hosts at Camp Nou in the 89th.

Barcelona capitalized on Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Friday to increase its lead to nine points over its top rival with seven rounds remaining.

Barcelona and Madrid will try to overcome losses in the Champions League quarterfinals in their next games after Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid 2-0 and Madrid fell to Bayern Munich 2-1 this week.

While Madrid will travel to Germany on a three-game winless streak, Barcelona’s attack is clicking as it heads to Spain’s capital needing a big win to advance to the European semifinals.

Barcelona’s fans chanted “Yes we can!” after the match with its team playing at Atletico on Tuesday.

“It is not over until it is over, things can happen, but it is true that it depends on us,” Ferran said about Barcelona’s bid to repeat as Spanish champion. “Now we can focus on the Champions League game.”

The 18-year-old Yamal leads Barcelona both in goals (22) and assists (18) across all competitions this season.

Ferran started the season in good form, scoring 16 goals among more starts than aging star Robert Lewandowski. While lacking the clinical scoring touch of the Poland striker, Ferran provided more movement, speed and linked up well with Yamal and his midfielders.

But Ferran then hit a slump and had not scored since Jan. 31.

His goalless run stretched across 13 games in all competitions and finally ended on Saturday when Yamal delivered a corner kick to the far post where Ferran leapt over Carlos Romero and nodded it home.

Ferran celebrated his first goal by gesturing with his hands as if they were talking, apparently in reference to the talk in the sports press and social media about his scoring troubles.

He made it a brace when he used a subtle touch to roll a pass by Yamal under on-rushing goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

Espanyol midfielder Pol Lozano put the result in doubt when he used one touch to fire in a rebound of a loose ball to make it 2-1 in the 56th. Roberto Fernández then came within inches of reaching a cross by Lozano in the goalmouth.

But Yamal finished off the Catalan derby when Dmitrovic tried to clear a long pass but ended up knocking it off Yamal, who only had to push the ball into the open net.

“The final score was too lopsided for the game we saw,” said coach Manolo González, whose Espanyol remained in 10th. “We had our chances and their first three goals were from our defensive mistakes.”

Rashford got his goal when he was set up by fellow substitute Frenkie de Jong, who made his first appearance in over a month after the Netherlands midfielder recovered from a right leg injury.

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Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, centre, controls the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ferran Torres, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Lamine Yamal, left, and Fermin Lopez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates after Ferran Torres, right, scored their side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)